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    Spin-selective higher-order topological corner states in a bilayer Kane-Mele-Haldane model

    Yu-Long Zhang1,2, Lizhou Liu3, Qing-Feng Sun3,4, Jian-Jun Liu1,2,*, and Ying-Tao Zhang1,†

    • *Contact author: liujj@mail.hebtu.edu.cn
    • †Contact author: zhangyt@mail.hebtu.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. B 113, 125427 – Published 23 March, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/t3wd-6hxq

    Abstract

    We propose a bilayer Kane-Mele-Haldane model that realizes spin-selective higher-order topology and generates spin-polarized corner states without the need for external magnetic fields. A single layer combining intrinsic spin-orbit coupling, a Haldane mass, and a staggered sublattice potential supports a spin-selective quantum anomalous Hall phase, in which only one spin sector carries a nontrivial Chern number. When two layers with distinct parameters are coupled, the bilayer system enters a higher-order topological insulating phase hosting robust spin-polarized corner modes. These corner states are characterized by nonzero spin-resolved winding numbers protected by mirror symmetry, and edge analysis reveals that they originate from Dirac mass domain walls. Furthermore, to provide a spatial-symmetry-independent characterization, we introduce spin-resolved entanglement topological invariants, which independently diagnose the number of protected corner modes in each spin channel. Our results establish a spin-selective extension of the bilayer coupling mechanism, offering a controlled route to engineer spin-resolved higher-order topological states.

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